WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Offseason Edition
Robin Lehner (40) plays the puck Saturday in Toronto. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Instead of using backup Anders Nilsson, who has a 7-1-1 home record, the Sabres will start No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner for the second straight night.
Why?
“Been looking for this opportunity to give Robin a bigger workload,” coach Dan Bylsma said this morning inside KeyBank Center, where the Sabres host the Vancouver Canucks. “He’s getting an opportunity tonight.”
Lehner looked sturdy throughout Saturday’s 3-1 win in Toronto, making a season-high ... Read the full article
Evander Kane celebrates his second goal Saturday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – For nine weeks, as Evander Kane quietly morphed into one of the NHL’s hottest players, the Buffalo Sabres winger did most of his scoring on the third line, without the benefit of a top center.
So what could Kane do if he, say, played regularly with a slick pivot? Well, Saturday at the Air Canada Centre, Kane gave a pretty good demonstration.
Teamed up with center Jack Eichel again, Kane scored twice in ... Read the full article
Evan Rodrigues grew up cheering for the Maple Leafs. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Growing up in Etobicoke, about a 20-minute drive from the Air Canada Centre, Alexander Mogilny’s talents mesmerized Buffalo Sabres rookie Evan Rodrigues.
By the early 2000s, long after his dynamic 76-goal season with the Sabres in 1992-93, Mogilny was still an electrifying presence for some strong Maple Leafs teams.
“He was always trying something new,” Rodrigues said Saturday prior to the Sabres’ 3-1 win against the Leafs. “He always made some real ... Read the full article
Tonight will be Evan Rodrigues’ fifth NHL game. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – This afternoon, hours before his fifth NHL game, Buffalo Sabres rookie Evan Rodrigues couldn’t stop smiling.
“He’s always all smiles,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said inside the Air Canada Centre.
True, Rodrigues, 23, always seems to be grinning. But tonight’s tilt, which will be broadcast across Canada on “Hockey Night in Canada,” is extra special for Rodrigues, who grew up a Maple Leafs fan in Etobicoke, about 20 minutes from Toronto.
“It’s going ... Read the full article
Ryan O’Reilly always skates big minutes. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
TORONTO – Even in the best times, when center Ryan O’Reilly is scoring at a torrid clip and the Buffalo Sabres are winning, the eight-year veteran is notoriously hard on himself.
So naturally, Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, a game in which a late four-goal implosion doomed the Sabres, didn’t sit well with him.
“It was tough sleeping last night knowing that I could’ve been a lot better and impacted the game a ... Read the full article
Cody Franson has 16 points this season. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Cody Franson blocked a shot in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Anaheim and will miss this weekend’s games, coach Dan Bylsma said.
Franson, who needs to be evaluated, was wearing a walking boot on his left foot and using a crutch to walk today inside KeyBank Center, where the Sabres had an off-ice workout instead of practicing at HarborCenter.
The Sabres play Saturday in Toronto and host Vancouver on Sunday.
For a ... Read the full article
Brian Gionta (12) cuts between Anaheim’s Hampus Lindholm (47) and Brandon Montour (71) on Thursday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – There was no roaring comeback or a big last-second push. Instead, the Sabres, fresh off a rollicking come-from-behind win, imploded late in Thursday’s ugly 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, allowing four goals after beginning the third period tied.
“We had the game right there 1-1,” Sabres goalie Robin Lehner said. “It’s disappointing.”
So much for carrying some momentum from Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime victory against San Jose, a game in which the Sabres ... Read the full article
The Sabres reclaimed Derek Grant on Monday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres center Derek Grant thought he had finally scored that elusive first NHL goal Jan. 17 in Vancouver, his hometown.
Scoring opportunities have been scarce for Grant, but a golden one materialized with a loose puck in the crease against the Canucks, one of six games he played with the Nashville Predators.
Grant furiously whacked away at the puck as goalie Ryan Miller tried to cover it up. He eventually put it in ... Read the full article
The Sabres got Derek Grant back on Monday. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres center Derek Grant thought he had finally scored that elusive first NHL goal Jan. 17 in Vancouver, his hometown.
Scoring opportunities have been scarce for Grant, but a golden one materialized with a loose puck in the crease against the Canucks, one of six games he played with the Nashville Predators.
Grant furiously whacked away at the puck as goalie Ryan Miller tried to cover it up. He eventually put it in ... Read the full article
Evander Kane (9) is upended as he attempts to drive between Toronto’s Roman Polak (46) and goalie Frederik Andersen on Jan. 17. ©2017, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald
BUFFALO – Sabres winger Evander Kane joked he crashed into his “favorite wall” after scoring the overtime winner in Tuesday’s 5-4 thriller against San Jose.
After his 16th goal secured the Sabres’ most unlikely victory this season, Kane hit the boards hard behind the net, his face and his right hand taking most of the impact.
Kane, who’s questionable for tonight’s tilt against the Anaheim Ducks, also broke four ribs crashing into those same boards ... Read the full article
